Promoting French in Laval
"The French language must remain a unifying and inclusive vector for Laval's diversity. Our city must play its role and be exemplary in promoting French in its territory. "Claude Larochelle
Laval, May 16, 2022 - The issue of protecting and promoting the French language came up at Laval City Council this month. At the last council meeting on Tuesday, May 3, Parti Laval interim leader and Fabreville councillor Claude Larochelle tabled a notice of motion to form a Laval committee on the French language. This committee would be responsible for reporting on the state of the French language in Laval and presenting, by the end of 2023, a municipal action plan to promote the enhancement of the language. In much the same way as the City of Montreal, this action plan would put in place the winning conditions to ensure the preservation of the French language. "In Laval, at the moment, there are no clear rules, policies or instructions dictating the means to be undertaken to promote French within our organization. We need to define the role the city can play in promoting French," asserts the elected official.
For a detailed plan with concrete actions
The Fabreville councillor explains what he expects of the committee to be formed: "It's essential that the town sets itself objectives with a deadline to meet. It must take concrete action within its sphere of competence. The aim of the proposal is to put in place a plan that will recognize the importance of French, promote the language and ensure its protection for future generations." He adds: "However, these actions cannot be carried out without the participation and inclusion of the English-speaking and allophone communities. It is imperative that the municipal strategy take into account the reality that is unique to Laval! For us, French must contribute to social cohesion, not be a divisive factor within the community. That's why we need this policy," says Claude Larochelle.
"Data from the 2021 census will soon be available and will no doubt paint a fairly accurate picture of the state of French in Laval. This information can be compiled in the report that will serve as a starting point for the implementation of the municipal action plan," says Marc-Aurèle-Fortin councillor Louise Lortie.
Parti Laval has also launched an online petition to gather support for the proposal and demonstrate to City Council that this issue deserves to be taken seriously by the current administration. The petition will be tabled at the City Council meeting on June 7, when the proposal will also be debated.
Source: Parti Laval Cabinet
Information: Tommy Vallée, Communications Manager | 438 875-8663 | t.vallee@laval.ca